PHILADELPHIA — The MLB All-Star Futures Game has been a fun and impressive showcase for recent Pirates prospects, key pieces of the current big league team such as Konnor Griffin, Esmerlyn Valdez and Bubba Chandler.
Seth Hernandez and Edward Florentino will get their turn on Sunday, July 12 at Citizens Bank Park, as both were announced as participants representing the Pirates on Wednesday morning.
Hernandez is the headliner, as he’s considered the seventh-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline’s updated top-100 list released Tuesday.
The right-hander, drafted sixth overall in 2025, became the first Minor League pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts last week and has gone 6-1 with a 2.02 ERA in 14 starts (62 1/3 innings) in Low-A and High-A combined.
While ranking second in Minor League Baseball in strikeouts (100), nobody has produced a better batting average against than Hernandez (.159), who throws four pitches and flashes triple-digit velocity.
The Pirates promoted Hernandez to Greensboro on May 12, and he had a little bit of an adjustment process. But over his past three starts, it’s been the expected dominance out of Hernandez, who turned 20 on Sunday.
Appearing on the Pirates Insider Show this past Sunday, Ben Cherington said the Pirates identified some changes to the timing of Hernandez’s delivery the general manager described as “slippage.”
It seemingly took Hernandez no time at all to get back on track.
Over his past three starts, Hernandez has allowed just one earned run in 12 2/3 innings, walking six and striking out 17.
"We’re just working to keep him in a really strong spot from a mechanical and delivery standpoint so that he can continue to get the reps he needs to make this a really good development year and a step on the ladder toward what we believe can be a really good future," Cherington said. "We have to remind ourselves that he’s 12 months out from high school prom or something. It’s happened really fast. We want to position him for a really long career. He’s off to a great start."
I chatted with Hernandez in early May about his dominant season, and he joked he was simply trying to get off the LECOM Park field as quickly as possible. He also talked about what a weapon his changeup has become and how the entire year has offered plenty of development opportunities.
“Having all four pitches for me has really helped,” Hernandez said. “The fastball shape has been even better this year. Guys can’t really sit on anything. It’s been good mechanically. Just want to keep dominating, keep shoving and getting some more wins.”
Florentino hasn’t produced the same gaudy numbers since moving up to High-A, but he’s still a highly regarded prospect, ranked No. 32 in MLB Pipeline’s most recent list.
Signed out of Los Alcarrizos, Dominican Republic for $395,000 in 2024, Florentino is hitting .230 with an .807 OPS in 53 games for the Grasshoppers and Marauders (for a rehab assignment). He’s collected seven doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, 38 RBIs, 42 walks and 46 runs scored.
Florentino — a 6-foot-3, 200-pound outfielder who bats left-handed — has been excellent against right-handed pitching (.851) but has struggled when facing southpaws (.604 OPS).
Nevertheless, the 19-year-old is simply in the thick of his development and will have the chance to showcase his skills on a large stage.
The Pirates’ Rookie Level Player of the Year in 2025, Florentino split 83 games between the FCL Pirates and Low-A Bradenton, hitting .290 with a .948 OPS that includes 23 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs and 35 stolen bases.
This story will be updated.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.